On Friday, the University officially hired Richard Lariviere, senior vice chancellor and provost at the University of Kansas, as the 16th University president, effective July 1.
The Oregon State Board of Higher Education voted unanimously to hire Lariviere to replace Dave Frohnmayer, who will retire June 30 after 15 years of leading the University. Lariviere’s initial contract with the University will be for two years.
Frohnmayer participated in the meeting at the White Stag Building in Portland via telephone and was full of warm praise for his successor.
He said Lariviere made “an extraordinary first impression” on him and his wife, Lynn, and it is “really a joy” to welcome him to the presidency.
Lariviere in turn commended Frohnmayer on his “magical” leadership of the University and said he looks forward to a long friendship with the Frohnmayer family.
The board also voted on Lariviere’s starting salary and agreed unanimously that Lariviere will receive $540,000 annually from the University, the UO Foundation and deferred compensation.
Frohnmayer makes $594,960 in total. He brought with him an endowed chair from the School of Law, which is worth $18,333 annually and is the most significant difference between his reimbursement package and Lariviere’s.
Public university funds will provide $245,700, which is exactly what Frohnmayer receives from the University. Lariviere’s contract will also include $180,000 from the Foundation, slightly less than Frohnmayer’s $180,927. Lariviere’s deferred compensation will total $114,300. Frohnmayer’s is $150,000.
Lariviere said he is “deeply honored to be chosen for this position.” He said the beginning of his presidency will be a time of daunting fiscal challenges, but the University can face them if its members band together with “creativity, energy and goodwill.”
Lariviere was selected by a 25-member presidential search committee that considered more than 50 resumes from candidates around the country, board member John von Schlegell said. “I was kind of skeptical a 25-person committee could function at all,” he said. “I really want to commend this group.” All of the committee members worked together to decide on Lariviere, he said.
Oregon University System Chancellor George Pernsteiner said, “Richard will be a remarkable leader because he has the right values.” Those values, Pernsteiner said, primarily involve an understanding of the importance of public education and its institutions.
ASUO president and search committee member Sam Dotters-Katz said he thinks Lariviere will work well with students. He has already shown an understanding of diversity and capital construction issues at the University, both of which students care about.
Dotters-Katz said Lariviere also worked with students as dean of the College of Liberal Arts at the University of Texas, an action Dotters-Katz said is unusual for a dean.
“Richard’s record speaks for itself,” he said.
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